If you are looking to put a logo or design onto a shirt or another article of clothing, there are a few choices you have to make before placing your order. One of the bigger choices you have to decide on is whether you are going to have your design created by having it screen printed or embroidered. There are a few factors to keep in mind when choosing between these two options, so before heading up to your local customized clothing shop to place your order, here are a few things to consider!

What Material You Want to Use

The material of your clothing article should be a guide to choosing between screen printing and embroidery because these look best on particular items. For instance, if you are hoping to put your logo, image, or brand on a thinner t-shirt like a v-neck or other more stretchy materials, then screen printing will likely be the best option!

While embroidery looks really sharp on heavier materials like outerwear, polo shirts, or even hats, the weight of the thread can cause thinner materials to pucker more easily and even tear from the hole the needle makes. When you embroider heavier material, you get an attractive, long lasting product that will look great for a long time, but if your goal is to have a thinner or more casual finished product, then screen printing might be your best option!

What Image You Have in Mind

Another important factor to consider is what kind of image you are shooting for, how big you want it to be, and how many colors you want to use. If you are hoping to have a large image on the whole front or back of a shirt, or perhaps are hoping to place a bulk order of the same product, then screen printing might be the quickest or most cost effective option.

However, the amount of colors you are wanting to use is something to consider. With embroidery, you have a way higher capacity for a lot of color use then you do with screen printing. In fact, you can often have over a dozen unique colors in an embroidered project before there is any change in cost, while it is a much different story for screen printing. Every color requires a new screen and layer to your fabric, so too many colors can cause the final product to look muddled, and every color is often an added expense. So, if you are dead set on an intricate image with many colors, then embroidery will likely be the best option.

Durability VS. Cost Investment

Choosing between screen printing and embroidery also depends on your long term plan for your finished product. Screen printed t-shirts are more susceptible to damage and regularly washing wear and tear. In fact, washing a screen printed shirt the wrong way can damage your product pretty quickly, while embroidered options stay looking sharp for the long haul.

Screen printed shirts will likely start to look faded or even cracked over time while embroidered clothes tend to stand the tests of time. While both options are crowd favorites, choosing between embroidered or screen printed projects really comes down to what you intend your order to be used for, how big your image is, and what your budget is. Regardless of what you choose, we are ready to give you the best looking custom clothes on the market!

Need more information or ready to make an order? Contact RiverCity, a screen printing and embroidery service for your custom t-shirts in San Marcos & Austin TX, to find out how we can help.